Waggener High School - RingBrothersHistory.com

The Voice Of St. Matthews, January 3, 1957: Highlight 1956Mallon Plan, Church Growth, Court Decision Highlight 1956The first was announced by Bollinger-Martin Builders, Inc. It would be situated on a 20-acre site on Westport Road, acrossfrom Briarwood Subdivision, and have the largest swimming pool in the county.The following week the St. Matthews Lions Club took a six-month option to buy 29 acres of land off Breckenridge Lanesouth of St. Matthews. The Lions announced they would build a non-profit $250,000 recreation center there, if the moneycould be raised by public subscription. Wilson Volk was named chairman of the project.Churches Expand: Local churches undertook major expansion programs in 1956.In January te St. Matthews Episcopal Church finished its addition costing more than $100,000. It included new offices and16 classrooms, totaling 6,938 square feet. Also in January the First Baptist Church of Middletown laid a cornerstone for anew education building to cost $88,000.Bethel Evangelical and Reformed Church held ground-breaking ceremonies in March for its new sanctuary, estimate to cost$250,000. The cornerstone was laid in October.Christ Methodist Church in May announced it was going to build a $1 million plant on U. S. 42 near Blankenbaker Lane.The first unit would cost $175,000. Ground was broken in November.In the late spring, St. Matthews Methodist Church began construction of the second unit of the educational annex. Costwas estimated at $70,000.In June, first services were held in the newly-constructed $93,000 East Chapel of the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Churchon Rudy Lane.The second Church of Christ Scientist in June broke ground for a $200,000 church on Frankfort Avenue at the corner ofThierman Lane. Construction is now complete and first services will be held there Sunday.In August, the St. Matthews Church of Christ, after worshiping for four years at the St. Matthews Woman’s club, brokeground for a $92,000 church building on a four-acre plot of ground off Westport Road, just west of Herr Lane.Our Savior Lutheran Church in September dedicated its new Sunday School building.Burning a Mortgage: Beargrass Christian Church in June burned its mortgage, after paying off it $100,000 educationalplant built in 1950. The church in November launched a drive to raise $75,000 to build a new sanctuary and to remodel thepresent building.Within a few days, parishioners had pledged $117,000.St. John Lutheran Church held last services in the church building at Breckenridge Lane and Grandview in January.Church activities were moved to St. Matthews Elementary School.The congregation had outgrown the church and plans called for construction of a new $178,000 church further south onBreckenridge lane.The Free Methodist congregation bought St. John’s church building for $30,000, and held first services there in February.A friendly neighbor, Crescent Hill Baptist Church, in April approved construction of a $500,000 addition to the church.In December, the Suburban Christian Church, meeting at the Community Center, was granted its charter. Thirty-two memberssigned the document.Post Office Added: The population in 1956 outgrew certain needed services. Consequently a new post office and volunteerfire department were added.The post office branch opened July 2 in the Levy Brothers store in the Shelbyville Plaza. Mrs. R. W. Richmond was namedpostmaster.The new fire department was opened in March at Hikes Point. Roy McMahan, Sr. donated a 40 by 240 foot strip of land.The volunteers got a cash grant from the County and collected the rest of the money door-to-door to construct a firehousecoasting $12,800 and to purchase a 500-gallon fire truck for $12,400.Fire and extended coverage insurance rates in April were cut in half. Formerly 75 cents, they came down to 37 cents for allhomes (about 1,000) within three driving miles of the Fire department.In May, Robert McGee was named fire chief. Thomas M. Wilder was Chairman of the Board.Burt Stevens Dies: St. Matthews was saddened in January by the death of Burton W. “Burt” Stevens.